Ratchet mechanism.



A. J. SLONECKER. RATCHET MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN-2,1915.

Patented May 2,1916.

Witnesses Attorneys their ran RA'IQHET-IVIECHANISM.

' 1 Application filed January 2, 1915. Serial No. 135.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABIRAM J. SLoNncKnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Grundy and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Ratchet Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in a ratchet mechanlsm, one ob ect of theinvention being the provision of a" device of this character adapted to be used 1n connection with any member that is to be rotated in opposite directions, as for instance, the vertically movable partof a lifting Jack, a wrench or drill chuck and the like, the invention including a novel form of swingingly mounted rotatable paw] adapted for cooperation with in an ordinary gear wh1ch in turn forms the ratchet wheel of the present mechanism, there being two of such pawls so that when one is swung into gripping relation, the gear wlll be rotated n one direction. while when the other pawl 1s swung into gripping relation, the gear w11l be rotated in the opposite directlon.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a ratchet mechanism, in which a head is mounted upon the member to be driven so as to rotate freely thereon, the head carrying two tubular members that are capable of both rotary and slight swingin'g movements, each of said tubular mem here being provided with a frusto'co-mcal corrugated part, the ribs of which are adapted to be placed into and out of engagement with a ratchet wheel secured to the driven member.

With the foregoing and other objects 1n View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the ratchet mechanism applied to a lifting jack. Fig. 2 is a similar view in which the operating handle is detached, the ratchet mechanism being applied to a chuck. Fig. 8 is a transverse horizontal sectional view showing the two pawls out of engagement with the ratchet wheel Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2,1916.

on the driven member. 1 Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the upper end of the device illustrated in Fig.1. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of that portion of the device which is shown in Fig. 4:- Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the spacing block which is carried by the oscillatory head.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals 1 and 1 designate the respective rotary members, of the lifting jack shown in Fig. 1 and of the drill chuck shown in Fig. 2. This lifting jack is similar to the lifting jack shown in my U. S. Patent No. 807,511 dated December 19, 1905.

A gear 2 which constitutes the main ratchet wheel of the present device is keyed at 3 to either of the shanks 1 or 1 and is therefore the driving element therefor. Two plates 1 and 5 are provided and the same have apertures 6 and 7, which receive the driven member 1 or 1 the respective ends 8 and 9 of the plates being curved into close relation as at a to form sockets. Interposed between the plates 4 and 5 and located at the. corresponding ends of the sockets are spacing blocks 10 held in place by rivets 11 and provided with concaved edges 10. Thus at the opposite ends of the casing formed by the plates 45 are located two parallel sockets for the reception of the cylindrical shanks of two tubular pawls 12 and 18. These pawls 12 and 13 are held against longitudinal movement by means of the beads 12 and 12 and 13 and 13 of the pawls 12 and 13 respectively.

The pawl 12 is provided with a frustoconical corrugated ratchet engaging head 14, while the pawl 13 is provided with a similar ratchet engaging head 15. These heads are disposed upon the corresponding ends of the pawls,.and have a slight swinging movement to and from the gear 2 on the receive the tapered end of an operating han- 1 die 17 which may beused to swing the heads 14 and 15 of the pawls'into and out of engagement with the gear 2.

When the handle 17 is swung in the direction of the arrow A of Fig. 1, the pawl 13 is swung with the block as a fulcrum,

- the head'15 engages the gear 2, and finally the gear and the member 1 is turned in one direction. A similar manipulation of the pawl 12, but in the direction of the arrow .B will rotate the member 1 in an opposite ble member; and a pawl-having a circular head adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, therpawl being mounted on the casing to swing transversely of the ratchet wheel thereby to move the head into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and being rotatable in the casing to dispose different portions of the head in engagement with the ratchet wheel.

2. In a device of the class described, a

rotatable member; a ratchet wheel thereon;

a casing journaled with respect to the retatable member; and a pawl having a circular head adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, the pawl being mounted on the casing to swing transversely of the ratchet wheel Gopiesof this patent may he obtained for thereby to move the head into and out of engagement with the ratchet whee nd being rotatable in the casing to dispose different portions of the head in engagement with the ratchet wheel; and a handle assembled with the pawl whereby the pawl may be moved into and out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and whereby the ratchet wheel and the rotatable member may be rotated through the instrumentality of the pawl and the handle.

3. In a device of the class described, a rotatable member; a ratchet wheel thereon; a casing journaled with respect to the rotatable member; a pair of pawls located on 'opposite sides of the ratchet wheel, the

nawls being provided at the corresponding ends with circular heads, adapted to engage the ratchet wheel, the pawls being mounted to swing 011 the casing transversely of the rotatable member and being rotatable in the casing, each pawl being provided with handle engaging means; and a handle adapted for interchangeable connection with the pawls.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABIRAM J. SLONECKER.

A. T. SLoNncKER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

